I got an e-mail today from a website concerning uniting truck drivers. It’s interesting that someone can try something like uniting a group on the Internet, but this was annoying. The e-mail was requesting trucking related website owners to unite with him on the quest to have bigger and “more effective” strikes.
My website is simply a site for information about technology to inform truck drivers about what is out there to help us succeed. Now why would I put something on there to help them fail by doing something stupid like stopping their truck?
The e-mail had a bad tone to it, using clichés like “CB Rambo, get over it, etc.” Here’s a sample from it -
One more issue that needs to be addressed here. If we ever can get enough drivers to join together in a protest, boycott, or a shutdown to make a REAL difference (and we’re still a LONG way from reaching that point) are you going to pick and choose what drivers can join with you based on their appearance or what they are wearing? If 50 drivers stand together, are you going to tell the ones that smoke you don’t want their support? Are you going to tell the ones that cuss you want them to leave your rally because you don’t like their language? If one Driver is wearing a t-shirt with a cross on it, and another one is wearing a t-shirt with a naked woman and the name of a whorehouse spelled out on it, are you going to tell them they can’t participate in your little protest because their clothing makes a statement you don’t approve of? If a female driver is wearing a string bikini top with her boobs hanging out, are you going to try and tell her she has to put on something else or leave your little group of protesters? Hopefully, no one is going to be stupid enough to turn away the support of other Drivers by doing any of these things, but some of you are doing that right now. Some websites have decided to pick and choose what other sites they want to be associated with because of links to adult sites, links to a video, links to ads for cigarettes, or any other number of reasons. HAVING THIS ATTITUDE WILL CAUSE ALL OF US TO FAIL MISERABLY!
Wow! So I have to unite with all sorts of undesirables on a protest AND on my website or I’m going to be a failure? What a concept, let’s all join!
It is very difficult to find a good trucking website. Now they’re going to start using it to show trucking in an even worse light.
I informed him that I could set up 1000 different “truckers united” sites for a few bucks a month that are identical to his. You can even put up an entire forum full of false posts to show the widespread “support” for your issue. None of this would be difficult and many people would fall for it. I told him to start putting his efforts towards better legislation and fairer business practices to get results. Nobody is going to change things with a $100 website, there are only going to fuel the fire. Do they think the media will ignore all the rants? The media will take all of this aggravation and run with it to show that we need some regulation, why look here, there are crazy disgruntled drivers all over the place.
These so-called uniters are trying for a strike like France had. I’ve been to France and it’s ok to look at, but it’s a Socialists country with business practices that are not even close to the freedoms we have here. So is that what the strikers want? Do they want the government to regulate the fuel prices, wages, and profits for transportation companies? I can’t think of a less American approach to solve a business problem.
Truckers United, sounds nice doesn’t it. We all get out there and hold hands at the fuel pumps, argue over who gets to go last at the dock in case the other guy is cranky and needs some rest, and wave and blow kisses to other drivers as they go buy in their new government sanctioned trucks bought from China . No thanks, I don’t want unity, I want a fair market place and fair rules to earn an honest living.
My point here, besides a little bit of ranting, is that folks are not going to let this strike idea die. I’m going to avoid all of those associated with it and start looking for groups and websites that are working on intelligent solutions.
I got my email from them too. I was going to respond, but didn’t want to waste my time.
That site it points you to does have adult ads on it. But he goes on about some other site doesn’t have advertising and isn’t concerned about traffic. That’s bull, because as soon as they get traffic, they’re going to have to pay for bandwidth.
For one thing, it does matter who we link to. It does matter who we hang out with and it does matter what organizations and people we associate ourselves with.
I wish these idiots would hurry up, fail, get off the road and out of the industry. But like our other friend, even though he failed and got out of the industry he still doesn’t shut up.
I didn’t even go check out the site. Adult ads? That’s low. You’re right, it does matter who we link to.
I’ll give them credit for ingenuity. It’s an idea to get traffic going to your site. You know, ride the wave of publicity. Lately, I bet there are more searches for “trucker strike” than anything else related to trucking. It will be over soon and they will be left with a bunch of free content from other people’s postings that gets them high on search rankings.
I would bet that we get a bunch of e-mails from other trying the same stunt. I will be on guard for it and I hope others are also. I didn’t think about them being able to get everybody on board, then switch up to a bunch of junk adult ads and things once they are setup good in the search engines. They would get the benefit of being linked to from so many sites. The authors of these good sites would be wasting their hard work and time to benefit these jokers thinking that they are doing a good deed.
Sometimes I wonder if scams outnumber legitimate work now. It would be nice for these “strikers” to be exposed for the scam artists and oppurtunist that they are.
With your last sentence, “I’m going to avoid all of those associated with it and start looking for groups and websites that are working on intelligent solutions”, you identified the primary problem with the so-called “trucker’s strike”; not only have strike proponents failed to propose solutions, they’ve failed to clearly define the problems. All they know is that they’re not happy and, as Everitt so eloquently stated, their limited communication skills preclude them from offering much more than a tantrum.
In my estimation, the email urging “unity” regardless of character is an indication that the efforts of the strike proponents are failing. That they’re willing to align themselves with anyone, ignoring any consideration beyond support of a singular cause, and that they’re asking others to compromise core values, tells me all I need to know about them.
Brings to mind one of my favorite pieces of bumper-sticker philosophy: “If you stand for nothing - you’ll fall for anything.”
I did get a chuckle out of the part of the e-mail asking me if I would kick the female driver in the string bikini out of “my little trucker strike”. Was that a trick question?
I haven’t seen to many bikini clad truckers lately, I most likely do not want to either. However, I would not tell her to wear something else as the question asked. If this starts I could change my mind on following a trucker strike convoy.
But seriously, I do have to wonder if there are any authorities watching things. I would think it is illegal to interfere with interstate commerce at a high level. If you put out a call for truck drivers to disrupt things and enough of them do it, wouldn’t you be liable for your actions? Would those connected to you be part of it too? I would not want to find out. I would suspect that these drivers in financial ruin could not afford the lawyers for it.
Just not running, well that’s not a problem. I fully support anybody who feels that they should not drive their truck for any reason to stay home. You have a right to do that all you want.
It does seem like things are dying down. Hopefully it will be a few more years before we hear the nonsense again.
Good post. You make some great points that most people do not fully understand.
“I informed him that I could set up 1000 different “truckers united” sites for a few bucks a month that are identical to his. You can even put up an entire forum full of false posts to show the widespread “support” for your issue. None of this would be difficult and many people would fall for it. I told him to start putting his efforts towards better legislation and fairer business practices to get results. Nobody is going to change things with a $100 website, there are only going to fuel the fire. Do they think the media will ignore all the rants? The media will take all of this aggravation and run with it to show that we need some regulation, why look here, there are crazy disgruntled drivers all over the place.”
I like how you explained that. Very helpful. Thanks.